Liu Xianfa
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War are decisive battles between justice and evil, light and darkness, and progressive and reactionary. From 1931 to 1945, the Chinese people, having fought tenaciously for 14 years, won the great victory of their War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the full victory of the World Anti-Fascist War with all peace-loving people in the world. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. Taiwan’s restoration to China is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order, as well as a great victory of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, through their successive efforts and bloody battles.
The pivotal role of the Communist Party of China is the key to the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Throughout the entire course of the war, the Communist Party of China always stands at the forefront and shoulders its responsibilities, providing strong political leadership and driving the formation of a historical torrent of the entire nation’s resistance. China is the main eastern battlefield in the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression is an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War and makes a decisive contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. In that devastating war, the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression started earliest, lasted longest, tied down most of the enemies and made greatest sacrifice. In 1931, the Japanese Imperialists blatantly launched the September 18 Incident, an attack on Shenyang city staged by the Japanese Kwantung Army, which is 8 years ahead of Nazi Germany’s blitzkrieg of Poland and 10 years before the Pearl Harbor Attack. At that time, Chinese soldiers and civilians fired first shot in the Anti-Fascist War and fought relentlessly across frozen plains in the occupied Northeast China. During the darkest days of the War of Resistance, China tied down nearly 70 percent of the Japanese Army, and thus helped Allied forces in other theaters gain vital strategic opportunities. During the 14 years of war, the Chinese people made tremendous national sacrifices and paid a heavy price. According to incomplete statistics, the number of casualties among Chinese military and civilians exceeds 35 million, accounting for approximately one-third of the total casualties during WWII. The direct economic loss is more than 100 billion US dollars, and the indirect economic loss over 500 billion US dollars.
Macao is never absent from this war and fights shoulder to shoulder with the motherland throughout.
All sectors of Macao society spared no efforts and overcame all difficulties to provide relief such as accommodation, food and medical care to a large number of compatriots displaced by the war. Macao’s patriotic figures like Mr. Ma Man-kei, Ho Yin and Ke Lin broke through heavy blockades of the Japanese invaders and sent supplies and funds to the front line. A legion of passionate young people from Macao were heading off to battlefronts in the Pearl River Delta, Dongjiang and other areas without hesitation. Patriotic groups raised huge sums of money to support soldiers at the front line and went to great lengths to promote the publicity of the War of Resistance. The Yellow River Cantata composed by the Macao-born people’s musician Mr. Xian Xinghai sounded the roar of national peril and became the strongest voice for national salvation. History will never forget the indelible contributions made by Macao to national independence and liberation of the people, nor will it forget the deep sense of patriotism and national righteousness of the compatriots in Macao.
Upholding the correct historical perspective on WWII which is peaceful, righteous, comprehensive and objective.
History cannot be tampered with and facts must not be erased. Even today, driven by geopolitical interests, some countries and politicians are still trying to ignore the historical facts, intentionally downplay China’s important contributions to WWII as the main eastern battlefield, openly beautify colonial rule, and even directly deny the history of fascist aggression and the brutal crimes committed by the Japanese army. Such despicable and disgraceful acts not only bring shame upon themselves, but also pose challenges to the UN Charter, the post-war international order, human conscience and the people of all victorious nations. The 1.4 billion Chinese people will not tolerate any attempt to distort the truth about WWII history. China, together with peace-loving people all over the world, will fight to the end against all wrongful acts that distort, glorify or deny the history of aggression, and jointly safeguard historical truth and defend world peace.
Joining hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity.
The international system with the UN at its core is a concentrated manifestation of the victory of WWII and serves as the cornerstone for the post-war international order. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has always been an indispensable and important force in maintaining world peace. China will never follow the old path of some countries that have achieved modernization through war, colonization and plunder. Instead, China will firmly stand on the right side of history and the side of progress of human civilization, and hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and win-win results. China’s proposal for building a community with a shared future for humanity and other major concepts and initiatives are a continuation and development of the valuable experience of the victory in WWII, and have contributed Chinese wisdom and solutions to promoting human peace and development. China will work unswervingly with the international community to practice the global governance vision of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits, implement the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and build a community with a shared future for humanity.
President Xi Jinping has pointed out, “War is like a mirror. Looking at it helps us better appreciate the value of peace”. We should learn from history, especially the hard lessons of WWII, draw wisdom and strength from the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and strengthen our determination to safeguard peace and consolidate security to jointly build a brighter future for humanity. We believe that all sectors in Macao will firmly carry forward the fine tradition of patriotism and the great spirit of the War of Resistance, thus making greater contributions to the steady and far-reaching development of the cause of “one country, two systems”, and the realization of the complete reunification of the motherland and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
*Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macau Special Administrative Region
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